President Thomas S. Monson began his Sunday morning address by telling the experience of physician Jack McConnell whose father, a Methodist minister, would ask each child at the dinner table, "And what did you do for someone today?"
The children were determined to do a good turn so they could report each day to their father that they had helped someone. As they grew and matured, that motivation became an inner desire to help others. After Dr. McConnell retired from a distinguished medical career, he established Volunteers in Medicine, which retired health care providers serve the working uninsured. Dr. McConnell said that by providing the service, he has benefited more than his patients have.
"Of course, we can't all be Dr. McConnells, establishing medical clinics to help the poor; however, the needs of others are ever-present, and each of us can do something to help someone," President Monson commented.
Quoting Jesus' words that "whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it," President Monson remarked, "I believe the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives. Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and, figuratively, lose their life, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish — and in effect save their life."
He noted, "Often we live side by side but do not communicate heart to heart. There are those within the sphere of our own influence who, with outstretched hands, cry out, 'Is there no balm in Gilead?'"
While he is confident, he said, that Church members intend to serve one another, "we become so caught up in the busy-ness of our lives. Were we to step back, however, and take a good look at what we're doing, we may find that we have immersed ourselves in the 'thick of thin things.' In other words, too often we spend most of our time taking care of the things which do not really matter much at all in the grand scheme of things, neglecting these more important causes."
Noting that some may lament they can barely make it through each day with all they have to do and wonder how they can provide service for others, President Monson recalled that just over a year ago, he was interviewed by the Church News prior to his birthday. The reporter on that occasion asked him what he would consider the ideal gift Church members worldwide could give him. He replied, "Find someone who is having a hard time, or is ill or lonely, and do something for him or her."
He said he was overwhelmed when this year for his birthday, he received hundreds of cards and letters from Church members around the world telling how they had fulfilled his birthday wish.
"The acts of service," he said, "ranged from assembling humanitarian kits to doing yard work.
"Dozens and dozens of Primaries challenged the children to provide service, and then those acts of service were recorded and sent to me." Some were recorded in the form of cards or pictures drawn or colored by the children. One Primary sent a large jar containing "warm fuzzies," each one representing an act of service performed during the year by one of the children.
President Monson shared a few of the countless notes he received:
"One small child wrote, 'My grandpa had a stroke and I held his hand.'
"From an 8-year-old girl: 'My sister and I served my mom and family by organizing and cleaning the toy closet. ... The best part was that we surprised my mom and made her happy because she didn't even ask us to do it.'
"An 11-year-old girl wrote: 'There was a family in my ward that did not have a lot of money. They have three little girls. The mom and dad had to go somewhere, so I offered to watch the three girls. The dad was just about to hand me a $5 bill. I said, "I can't take [it]." My service was that I watched the girls for free.'
"A Primary child in Mongolia wrote that he had brought in water from the well so his mother wouldn't have to do so.
"From a 4-year-old boy, no doubt written by a Primary teacher: 'My dad is gone for army training for a few weeks. My special job is to give my mom hugs and kisses.'
"Wrote a 9-year-old girl: 'I picked strawberries for my great-grandma. I felt good inside'
"And another, 'I played with a lonely kid.'
"From an 11-year-old boy: 'I went to a lady's house and asked her questions, and sang her a song. It felt good to visit her. She was happy, because she never gets visitors.'"
That latter note, he said, reminded him of words penned long ago by Elder Richard L. Evans of the Quorum of the Twelve: "It isn't easy for those who are young to understand the loneliness that comes when life changes from a time of preparation and performance to a time of putting things away.... To be so long the center of a home, so much sought after, and then, almost suddenly, to be on the sidelines watching the procession pass by — this is living into loneliness. ... We have a long time to learn how empty a room can be that is filled only with furniture. It takes someone ... beyond mere hired service, beyond institutional care or professional duty, to thaw out the memories of the past and keep them warmly living in the present. ... We cannot bring them back the morning hours of youth. But we can help them live in the warm glow of a sunset made more beautiful by our thoughtfulness ... and unfeigned love."
President Monson said his birthday cards and notes also came from teenagers in Young Men and Young Women classes who made blankets for hospitals, served in food pantries, were baptized for the dead and performed numerous other acts of service.
"Relief Societies," he said, "where help can always be found, provided service above and beyond that which they would normally have given. Priesthood groups did the same."
President Monson said, "My heart has seldom been touched and grateful as it was when Sister Monson and I literally spent hours reading of these gifts. My heart is now full as I speak of the experience and contemplate the lives which have been blessed as a result for both the giver and the receiver."
Near the end of his address, President Monson said, "My brothers and sisters, may we ask ourselves the question which greeted Dr. Jack McConnell and his brothers and sisters each evening at dinner time: 'What have I done for someone today?'"
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